This is a question aimed towards employees that made the move of leaving AT&T. I am fed up with my job and made the decision to leave and try to land a job at another company.
I have to be honest I’m fu----g scared. I get that this is probably just in my head and that I’m haunted by the fact that once leaving AT&T was considered a crazy move, and that the company was a symbol of stability and having a good job. But that is no longer the case, is it?
I was hoping for some advice from people that already made this step, and tips on how to cope with the fear.
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I left AT&T almost a year now. I have secured a new job and quite honestly, it is 100x easier than AT&T was. With AT&T on my resume, I have applied for new roles, and have secured at least 10 interviews within the last month for sale jobs. AT&T is a dumpster fire and the only ones there are those that have their 401ks with AT&T as they hope and pray the stock price recovers (Which it won't). It will continually tank and will go sub 10$ because the telecommunications market is completely saturated, and they are only flipping Gross Adds from one account to another (There is no actual growth). GG AT&T and GL, the grass is indeed greener out there.
Not hard at all. I thought 26 years was enough, took the Lump Sum, moved both the Pension and 401K monies into an IRA, and moved on with my life. I do have to pay a lot for our Health Insurance, but I'm all good. Many ups and downs during everyone's career. But, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Good luck!
Based on my experience -
Depending on your current role, and the jobs you would be seeking my advice is this: 1. Line out what is important to you in terms of company culture(including wlb), money, benefits(including time off) ect. If you have companies in mind where you would like to work and they have available positions, do your research on their interview process. If you find jobs posted with unfamiliar companies that look interesting, do extensive research. If you are in IT, get ready for a gauntlet at some of these places(6-8 interviews including the screen with a recruiter). But, if you are prepared and preparing before you leave, you will definitely have an advantage.
Find another job before you go (not after). As you're doing your search, don't say a word to anyboy withing the company about what your intentions are. A couple/few months after you've settled into your new job (it takes some time to feel comfortable in a new environment), you'll look back and realize what you were afraid to let go of is perhaps the worst run major corporation in America. Yes, there are pockets of sanity in the place, but by and large it's a fiasco run by not-too-bright, naricissistic, gandiose petty tyrants. If you're not in one of those pockets of sanity, and you you're not a smiley-faced simpleton who is satisfied playing with Powerpoint all day, you're better off elsewhere.
it was easy should of left sooner
If you aren't happy and don't feel any sense of accomplishment, it is a good idea to look at other companies. Apply and interview for job offers. Ask the important questions. Then, it will be easier to decide if it is best to stay or go.
It’s hard to leave a career and the financial security. But satisfaction and happiness is just as, or more important. You will know when “it is time” for you to leave. I do not know anyone who left who was sorry they did so and many wished they’d had the courage to leave earlier. It may not always be a perfect or easy transition to the next job, but in the long run is worth it for your well being and health. Good luck to you when you are ready
I found the process has many parallels to leaving a toxic personal relationship.
Over the years they promise you things, and mess with you. And you think you can find ways to cope or beat their games.
You mostly do, but still you miss some things, and inevitably take some damage. When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you. These things frame your thoughts, acclimating you to toxicity and dysfunction.
People tend to get used to their discomfort. The hardest part is making the decision and walking away.
Leaving scary, sure it can be. All depends on your true marketability.
I had been with AT&T, some 33 years, all in Enterprise OS Operations. Held many positions, well seasoned IT Pro.
When trying to find a new job, agism was a real issue. Going from a huge infrastructure, clearly defined silos, created issues. Some, thought of AT&T like a government job, I was nothing more than a facilitator of the work being done by contractors. Others, couldn't imagine me being satisfied with a smaller infrastructure, or a job that had more varied responsibilities.
AT&T was a simple job, worked just a few hours a day, just like most my team mates, with the boss asking for more people.
It was a good gig, but in the end, I needed to leave, to get my 950k lump sum. I needed to leave, to preserve my health care subsidy.
So I left, without a new job waiting. Finally, that new job is waiting. Thankfully, filled some time with a contract position.
“Not hard to leave, but I wont. I'll keep playing the game by the rules that "leadership" has implemented until I'm ready to leave. Once you stop caring, it gets much easier. It is just a place I need to go to 5 days a week. Randall, Stankey, thank you for making this possible.”
Along with the debt, this is one of the biggest problems T currently faces.
Yes it is. I had no part in creating this atmosphere. This is squarely on "leadership" I used to go above and beyond, taking call outs at any hour, not letting a problem go until resolution. Now, I bounce at 5:00 pm, don't talk to me until 8:00 am the next morning. My relationship with T is better this way.
There is life after T; remember T is not your source, its only a resource and there are many other good resources available. However, I wouldn’t recommend leaving unless you have something lined up. I woke up December 15th not knowing I would be getting a job offer and leaving T December 28th. It was scary to leave something familiar, but so far no regrets! Have faith and follow your instincts!
“Not hard to leave, but I wont. I'll keep playing the game by the rules that "leadership" has implemented until I'm ready to leave. Once you stop caring, it gets much easier. It is just a place I need to go to 5 days a week. Randall, Stankey, thank you for making this possible.”
Along with the debt, this is one of the biggest problems T currently faces.
Not hard to leave, but I wont. I'll keep playing the game by the rules that "leadership" has implemented until I'm ready to leave. Once you stop caring, it gets much easier. It is just a place I need to go to 5 days a week. Randall, Stankey, thank you for making this possible.
I was recruited for a part time job at a sports complex. I basically work weekends but I work 4/10’s at T, so I still have a day off. Someone is being transferred to another state and his full time job will be available next month. With the pension I will move to another management provider and the full time income I will not have to draw Social Security for several years. I much prefer driving a Zamboni and working operations there than the BS I put up with at T.
Left with 40 years at 58 and 7 figures between the 401K and pension.
Get $4100 a year for mine and my wife's health insurance.
She also gets an AT&T pension. SIP in 1994. Bought 80 acres ad built a cabin. Cash.
Between that an our SS we are living large.
But leaving is scary.
Being a man is as well.
Men don't fear, they persevere.
Think about it over your Starbucks tomorrow.
#Don’tLookBack
Leaving was easy. Finding a new job wasn't too difficult. Gaining more reward, mental peace, and satisfaction at the new position was a cinch.
There is no excuse for anyone to stay at a place as horribly run, frustrating, and utterly disdainful of its employees as T. You already know how awful it is, just leave.
I left the day I got 75 rule 5 years later work part time at company 3 miles from my doorstep Plenty jobs at companies that have a clue on how to treat employees
I left when I made modify 75 rule and retired. ATT was bleeding my life force from me. I was offered jobs outside of ATT but did not accept any offers. Because I started playing the stock market and made more than 100 years of salary in a short period of time. You never know what is waiting for you if you don't take a chance. But if I lost all my investments I still will have my monthly pension and Social Security to fall back on including a side job if needed.
It’s just a mental thing you have to overcome. Once you start interviewing your mindset will change automatically. Most companies pay better than AT&T
Find another job first. Where is the fear? Use this job to compete for the right salary in a new job.
Get up and get on.
It would definitely be recommended to find a new job while you still have employment. The job market out there is incredible but if you’ve stayed at T longer than a decade it may take some time and probably some skill upgrades to land a new position. Longterm employment at T is a resume liability.
Find the other job, THEN leave.
Man up perhaps?
Not a problem at all finding a new job.
You have to find another job before quitting if you don't want to feel scared/stressed.
I left six weeks ago. 14 years of 1-2% raises and clueless management was enough. Oh, I looked around internal for a year but discovered that I was at "that age" where someone younger was preferred. My new salary is $35K higher and the solutioning is more interesting. I moved the cell phones to consumer cellular over a year ago and saved money over the AT&T discount. DirecTV was great at $11/month but that ended about the time I left. The benefits at my new employer are more costly, maybe 1-2% higher. The 401k match is 1% lower. I'm not losing sleep over a 2-3% difference. LinkedIn worked for me; been a member for 20 years, kept my profile updated.